Thank you for your generosity, we’ve been overwhelmed with your support and hit our initial target, you’ve been amazing!  We have increased the target because the more money we raise the more families we will be able to help – thank you again.

One person we helped was Nicky Joseph – a twin mum left alone to face breast cancer and the gruelling prospect of chemotherapy… A few days after a mastectomy to remove her left breast, and three days before she was about to start harrowing chemotherapy, her fiancé walked out on the family and left Nicky to face it all alone.  Nicky was crushed that her only form of reliable support had chosen to leave and had no idea what she was going to do.  

Helping Hands was able to step in and provide a Norland college trained Support Practitioner called Mel who cared for twins, Leo and Gabriel, at Nicky’s home for a couple of days a week and provided 120 hours of support over six weeks. This meant Nicky could go to hospital for chemotherapy and rest after the treatment to cope with the horrendous side effects. Nicky told us, “The difference Mel made was incredible and if she hadn’t been around I don’t know what I would have done.” Nicky is just one of many families who have turned to Helping Hands since it was set up in 2014. 

Helping Hands is an invaluable award-winning service yet because it’s so niche, is difficult to fund.  We urgently need support so more parents like Nicky have somewhere to turn when the absolute worst case scenario happens. Christmas time is a key period for receiving referrals for families in completely desperate circumstances – last year referrals were double the average number - and we want to be able to help them in their greatest hour of need. YOUR donation will enable us to offer that life-line.”